Hundreds of trees in Fish Creek Provincial Park axed for path upgrades

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Work along a crucial pathway in Fish Creek Provincial Park will require the removal of hundreds of hazardous trees.

Around 900 trees of various sizes are expected to get the axe; however, according to an Alberta Parks advisory, the exact number of trees depends on site conditions.

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The advisory defines hazardous trees as having a significant lean, an observed disease, or being partially deceased.

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Work is taking place along the Central Corridor Pathway, the primary route connecting the various day-use areas of the park.

“Alberta Parks is proceeding with upgrades that will expand the primary asphalt pathway to better accommodate a wide variety of users including cyclists and pedestrians,” read an emailed statement from Alberta Parks.

In their statement, Alberta Parks said the work began in February and is anticipated to conclude sometime in April.

Alberta Parks said visitors may experience some short-term delays along the pathway while work continues. Those looking for pathway alternatives can call the information line at 1-877-537-2757 or stop by the Bow Valley Ranch Visitor Centre.

It was unclear what the specific nature of the pathway upgrades is, and Alberta Parks did not respond to further questions regarding a timeline for the project or if there is a plan in place for replanting the trees.

Alberta Parks ‘should probably do better at communicating’: non-profit

Nick Blanchet, executive director at Friends of Fish Creek, a non-profit with 285 volunteers that looks after different aspects of the provincial park, says they help fill certain gaps left by Alberta Parks.

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Blanchet said they were informed that there would be some work done in the park, and to his understanding it would entail widening and perhaps replacing some of the pathways.

“I did point out to Parks that they should probably do better at communicating what’s going on,” he said.

He said they’ve had people walk into their office at the park and ask questions about the chopped trees.

“Users love the park, it’s their special place, and they don’t like it to be interfered with.”

Blanchet had heard that a few signs were put up with some detail of the work, but people access the park from several different points. “The odd sign here and there is not going to get the message across,” he said.

The Central Corridor Pathway spans 19 kilometres through the park, so the 900 trees being removed are spread out and not in large swaths.

Trees to come down throughout park

Blanchet said trees have come down in the Hull’s Wood area and in Bebo Grove, as far as he’s aware.

The Alberta Parks advisory also lists Shannon Terrance, Votier’s Flats, Gennfield, Sikome Aquatic Facility, Burnsmead, Mallard Point, Chinook Rotary and Bow Valley Ranch as affected areas.

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Postmedia observed some chopped trees in the Bebo Grove area, which appeared sporadically, sometimes with one tree being chopped and some in groups of two to five.

Some trees also had paint markings, presumably marked for future chopping.

When it comes to tree planting in the park, Friends of Fish Creek plays a role. Blanchet said they put 1,600 trees in the ground last year with their tree replacement program.

A lot of trees are dying of old age, but they create fabulous habitat when they do expire, he said.

A biologist with Friends of Fish Creek has gathered volunteers, and in areas where the pathway is to be widened, Blanchet said they will collect native plants and take them to their nursery before placing them back in the park.

In terms of tree replanting duties, he thinks they will fall on Friends of Fish Creek.

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